Sheet piler



Sept. 30, 1941. w, KE|| 2,257,469

SHEET FILER Filed May 20, 1939 6 Sheets- Sheet l I grvUQ/HX/Ob I WALTER MICHAEL KEIL W. M. KEIL Sept. 30, 1941.

SHEET FILER Filed May. 20, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 MALTE R MICHAEL KEIL 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 3mm WALTER MICHAEL KEIL w. M. KEIL SHEET FILER Filed May 20, 1939 R u m n w 7 V i 1 V W 55:55:; 2:: m T m a a. 1 5 m m I w 1 $1 .0 \mm mwr F. 5.4.5" HHHHHH n .J h P 555 ..P|.|. i .n-. .snnfiflmufi mm mx Sept. 30, 1941.

W. M. KEIL SHEET FILER Sept. 30, 1941.

Filed May 20, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 WALTER MICHAEL KEIL W. M. KEIL SHEET FILER Sept. 30, 1941.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 20, 1939 WALTER mcuazl. KEIL 1 W 4&

6 Sheets-Sh eet 6 w. M. KEIL SHEET FILER Filed May 20, 1939 l rllllli illgllnuilqiil llf ii I I.

Sept. 30, 1941; V

. i I gwuZ W warren MICHAEL KEIL V 'abtqmwn Patented Sept. 30,

UNTED STATE sneer rmia Walter Michael Keil, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to Youngstown Foundry and Machine Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 20, 1939, Serial No. 274,770

16 Claims. (Cl. 271-68) This invention relates to an automatic machineior stacking sheets, plates or similar arti-- cles as they issue from production or finishing apparatus and more particularly to a machine some cases, restricted by the inability of the piling machine to handlethe output and an additional attendant is sometimesrequired to check and correct the intervals between the succesfor the purpose stated which is capable of rapidis sive sheets. Another object of the invention is, ly stacking highly finished metallic sheets without therefore, the provision of an apparatus for piling marring or injury to the same. metal sheets which is operative to position sheets Heretofore it has been proposed in the design successively entering thereinto without limitaof machines for the purpose stated to provide tion as to the intervals existing between the sheets means to convey the sheets or plates along a lo and as to practical speeds employed. general horizontal planespaced above the up- A further object of the invention is to proper surface of the stack or pile being formed and vide a machine for the purpose generally stated to provide suitable means to withdraw all verwhich is operative to provide means to support tical support from the sheet in the horizontal and move the sheets into a position immediately plane when the sheet reached a position subl above the pile being formed whereby the need stantiall directly above the sheets of the pile of any ancillary sheet moving means is obviated, being formed. Various expedients have been rethus avoiding danger of injury to the side edges sorted to .to support and/or convey the sheets to of the sheets by such ancillary means or by the the position above the pile but in all of the employment of excessive sheet moving speeds prior devices of which I am aware the with- 20 when t e Sh ets pp o enter into the P 1 8 drawing of the support and/oi conveying means apparatus. The invention further contemplates has involved the movement of parts having conthe provision of a multiplicity of elements which siderable inertia, which has retarded the rate of have the dual function of supp rtin the Shee s operation of the machines to such an extent that and moving the same longitudinally and the intheyare unsuitable for use in many modern high corporation With u elements of e arr eproduction processes. It is, therefore, the priment whereby a minimum of relative movement mary object of the invention to provide a mabetween the elements and the sheets exists to chine which is capable of engaging a plurality insure against any marring of the highly finof successive rapidly moving metallic sheets and shed ac 01 the Sheets being d de piling the sheets into a finished pile ith th elements aforementioned are so arranged that lateral and end edges in vertical alignment so they move w t e s to ove the sheets that the finished pile presents the appearance and support the same and when the sheets reach of a rectangular block having smooth and even a pos tion ed ately above the pi e the elefaces. The operation of the machine enables ments are dropped downwardly and outwardly he above to be accomplished in a very expediallowing the sheets to follow without any subtious manner without injury to the edges or the stantial sliding movement between the highly highly finished surfaces of the sheets. finished surfaces of the sheets and the elements Another objectionable characteristic of the or other members and without their edges being machines heretofore devised for the purpose of engaged y y elements Othe members. piling metallic sheets and of which I am aware 0 Yet another obj o the invention is he P is that a minimum interval must be maintained vision in an app o the P pose stated betweenthe successive sheets as they issue from of a vertically adjus e uppo fer the p the production or finishing equipment and enter being fo med which pp is integrally p the piling apparatus and such interval must be Vided w th ans to m ve the pile from'the apincreased as the speed of travel of the sheets paratus upon the comp et on of its formation is increased to enable the moving elements of and which, when in its upper sheet receiving pothe piling mechanism to return to their original sition, is generally horizontally disposed but operative positions before the succeeding sheet which, when in its lower or run-out position, is reaches certain of the elements. Considerable inclined sufiiciently to enable the pile to move difliculty is experienced in so correlating the ,50 by gravity from the apparatus. speed of the rolls or other production or finishing A still further object of the invention is to equipment and the conveyer tables to insure sufprovide a machine for piling sheets having the ficientspacing between the successive sheets for characteristics and advantages enumerated above the satisfactory operation of the piling mechabut which is readily adjustable to accommodate nism. The rate of production of the line is, in 5Q sheets of different widths and lengths; which These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed specification wherein a there is specifically disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention. Although the invention is particularly adapted to machines for the ensues positioned adjacent an end of each of the plates II on vertical shafts 2| to which they are keyed. Shafts II are driven by the bevel gears 22 which in turn are driven by bevel gears 23, the bevel -gears being housed within housings 24. A shaft housings 24. Shaft is driven by a motor 24 purpose of piling highly finished metal sheets, it

should be obvious that the principles thereof are equally applicable to machines for handling a wide variety of objects.

In the drawings:

a Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention:

Figure 2 is a part end elevation and sectional view of the machine of Figure 1, the view being taken along the line 11-11: of Figure 1.;

Figure 3 is a section through the, machine taken along the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 illustrates the cross-section of the machine, the view being taken along line IV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line V--V of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation taken of the area VI-VI of Figure 1;v

Figure 7- is a fragmentary plan view of the area VII-VII of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a detailed sectional view taken along the line VIIIVIII of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a plan view of an apparatus which may be used on the machine of Figures 1-8 to provide support for the center of wide thin sheets; and I Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view through the apparatus of Figure 9 taken along the line X-X of Figure 9.

The machine, in its preferred embodiment, consists essentially of a pair of spaced parallel endless chains lil supported for travel in a common horizontal plane and each pivotally supporting a multiplicity of sheet supporting fingers ii, means to maintain said fingers in sheet supporting position and means to simultaneously withdraw said maintaining means whereby all supports for the sheet in the machine will be simultaneously withdrawn allowing the sheet to fall onto the platform, indicated generally at i2, or onto a pile of sheets previously deposited on the platform. Chains Iii are each supported and guided between a pair of elongated parallel plates i3 which are rigidly connected together in spaced position by suitable means, not shown.

Grooved guide bars i4 (Figure 8) extending about the outer edge of each of the plates It within the space defined between the plates i3 of a pair are securely fastened to the plates to provide for tracks in which the chains In move.

A multiplicity of evenly spaced hangers l5,

each carrying a horizontal pivot pin it, are

incorporated in the chain structures and on the pins iii are pivotally mounted the fingers ii. The latter are L-shaped, having secured thereto on one leg a face ll of fibre or the like so as not to mar the surface of a sheet which they may support and carried on their other leg is a roller iii the function of which will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 5, chains iii are driven by sprockets 20, one sprocket being through reduction gear 28 conveniently attached to the fixed frame of the machine. On the opposite ends of the plates i3 and positioned therebetween are the idling sprockets I0 keyed to the vertical shafts 3|, the ends of the latter being engaged by the yokes 32 which are biased to outward position by the coil springs 33. Springs 33 are adjusted inwardly and outwardly by the set screws 34 extending in threaded relation through the members 35 secured to the upper plates ii. The purpose of slidably mounting the shafts 3| is to maintain the chains it in taut condition.

The frame supporting the various operative elements of the machine consists of a base 36, columns 31 extending upwardly from the base. the two spaced longitudinally extending beams 21 positioned on the upper ends of the columns 31, and a pair of spaced parallel transverse I beams 38 supported at their ends on the beams 21. The plate assemblies l3 ca ry the chains 10, the drive housings 24 and the tripping mechanisms, to be later described, are supported in depending relation on the beams 38, suitable slide connections 39 being provided for this purpose. The assemblies are moved towards and away from each other to accommodate different widths of sheets by the shafts 4i which are journaled at their ends in pillow blocks 42 carried by the beams 21 and which have screw threaded connections 43 with each of the assemblies. One of the shafts 4| is provided with a hand wheel 44 for manual manipulation and a chain 45 interconnecting the shafts 4i insures synchronous movement of the shafts. The threads on the shafts 4| are so pitched that rotation of the shafts results in simultaneous movement of the assemblies either inwardly or outwardly as the case may be. v

Referring to Figures 6 and 8, the means employed to maintain the fingers ii in horizontal sheet supporting position consists, in each of the assemblies above mentioned, of a bar 41 positioned beneath the inner reach of the chain iii, parallel therewith and substantially of the extent thereof. I Bar 41 is carried by a number of longitudinally spaced arms 48 which are rigidly keyed to a longitudinally extending shaft 49 rotatably supported at spaced points in bearings 50 rigidly supported from the lower plate It. Shaft 49 is adapted to be rocked by arm 5! rigidly keyed thereto. The outer end of arm 5| is pivotally connected with a rod 52 which in turn is pivotally connected with a crank 53 of a motor 54. The throw of crank 53 and the relative lengths of arms 48 and 5| is such that with rod 52 in its downward position the bar 41 presents a generally vertical surface for engagement by the rolls l8 of the fingers Ii. However, as crank 53 moves rod 52 to its upward position the bar 41 moves downwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 8, withdrawing the aforementioned retaining surface and allowing the ass-2,409

fingers u to rotate to their dotted line positions as indicated in Figure 8. As the chain ll moves about its orbit the fingers Ii as they move along 1 the reach outwardly of the sheet supporting reach will be in downward position, as shown to the right of Figure 8, the fingers being balanced in such manner that they will assume such normal 4 position. 7 plate ll of the chain supporting assemblies at Depending from each lower assume as they return along the outer reach to a horizontal position they assume when engaged by the bar 41. The surface of the member 51 is. at its leaving end, substantially flush with the adjacent bar 41 when the latter is in upper operative position and it should therefore be appar-' cut that the function of the members 51 is to move the fingers- II from an inoperative to an operative position as the sheet supporting traverse is reached.

A switch 59 having an operating arm is positioned centrally of the path of travel of the sheets through the machine being carried by member 6| which is slidably mounted on a bar 62 supported in depending relation from the transverse framemembers 38. The operating arm 60 extends downwardly, as shown more clearly in Figure 2, in order that it may be engaged by the leading end of a sheet coming into the machine. Switch 69 which is actuated by such engagement controls motors 54 (both simultaneously) through suitable conductors and relays, not shown. Motors 54 are of the single revolution type, i. e., upon energization the cranks 63 make but one complete revolution.

The sheet or pilesupporting mechanism posirun-outtables will continue to move downwardly a certain distance after movement oi. the other end of the tables 'has been stopped by their, engagement with member ll. However,- when the tables are in their upper or sheet receiving position the tables will be horizontal.

A retractible stop II is positioned between the two tables 64 to engage the leading end of the sheets for the purpose of aligning them vertically. Pivotally mounted on the frame structure of the machine adjacent the other end of the tables is the member I! which is adapted to be intermittentlymoved by a fluid pressure motor 06 mounted on base 36 and connected with member I! by a rod 6!. As a sheet is dropped from the fingers ll onto a pile being formed on the tables 64, member 19 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, by motor 88 to engage the trailing end of the sheet to move the sheet against the stop 18. This provides for accurate vertical alignment of the end edges of the sheets being piled and, if desired, suitable side guides may be provided to align the side edges of the sheets vertically as the sheets fall onto the pile. I

From the above description the operation of the machine should be fairly apparent. The chains l0 carrying th pivotallymounted fingers II are normally in continuous motionin the directions indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings and, if the formation of a pile is just being started, the tables 64 will be moved to theirupper horizontal positions by the mechanism described above. Stop 16 will be in its upper operative position and as the sheets enter the machine they will be'supported and carried by the finger ii previously moved to operative positions and retained in such position by th members 61 and 41, as explained above. The sheets will be carried along by the fingers ll until the switch operating and or flag is reached at which time motors 54 will be energized by reason of the actuation of switch 69 and, as explained above, the bars 4's "on either sideof the machine will be moved to lower position, allowing each of the fingers Ii to their ends with screw threaded apertures to receive the vertically extending screws 68 which are rotatably mounted at their lower ends in the housings 69. Within each of the housings 69 is a gear (not shown) keyed to the screw 68 and meshing with a second gear (not shown) keyed to a horizontally extending shaft 10. The shafts 10 on one side .of the machine are simultaneously driven from a reduction gear Ii and the shafts 10' on the other side of the machine are simultaneously driven from a reduction gear 12. A

motor I! drives the reduction gears H and 12 in unison through coupling 14 and transverse connecting shaft 15. The various transmission gearing from the motor and the threaded connections between the screws 68 and saddles are so arranged that all the ends of the saddles 66 move upwardly'and downwardly in unison.

Extending transversely of the base 36 and supported thereon is a beam 11 whose upper surface is above the upper table supporting surface of the adjacent saddle 65 when the latter is in lowermost position. This provides for the tilting of the run-out tables 64 to the inclined position shown in Figure 4, as the latter are moved to downward position by the downward movement a of the saddle 66, since the leaving and of the simultaneously rotate to an operative position, thereby withdrawing all support for the sheet, allowing the same to fall free onto the tables 6d. Inasmuch as the tables 64 are positioned closely beneath the supporting fingers i I the extent of fall of the sheet is short, thereby minimizing any danger of injury to th surface of the sheet ,due to impact. As succeeding sheets advance through the machine the tables 64 are progressively lowered until the desired number of sheets are piled thereon, at which time the stop 18 will be retracted and the tables 64 lowered to their inclined position, shown in Figured, and, as this position is reached, the pile will automatically move off the tables by gravity and onto suitable conveying apparatus with which the piling ma chine may be associated. It should be understood, of course, that the longitudinal interval between the flag 60 and the leaving ends of the members 61 will always be greater than the length of the sheets being piled toinsure the simultaneous withdrawal of all supports for the mac of any particular interval between the successive sheets. In accordance with usual practice suitable conveying means, not shown, is utilized to move the sheets to the machine of the present invention. By referring to Figures 1, 2 and 4 of the applicant's drawings it can be seen that as the leading ends of the sheets enter the machine the side portions of the lower surfaces of the sheets' will be progressively engaged by the upwardly and forwardly moving fingers II which attain their horizontal positions as they complete their rotary movement about the ends of supporting members I! and whil in this horizontal-position carry the sheets through the machine. As the sheets engage fiag 60 the supporting fingers Ii engaging rails 41 will be simultaneously dropped to vertical position allowing the sheets to fall onto the pile but, since retraction of retaining rails 31 does not aifect the initial movement of the fingers to horizontal position, at least two horizontally positioned fingers I! are always available on either side of the machine for support of the leading and of successive sheets regardless of whether or not the leading sheet has already fallen onto th pile. The machine is operative even though the succeeding sheets abut each other as they enter the machine and,

of course, the extent of. any interval between the sheets is immaterial. Due to this arrangement and to the facts that the chains to can be operated at any desired speed and that the fingers ii are practically instantaneously movable to inoperative positions, th machine iscapable of operation at a high rate of speed. Together with the above attributes the apparatus of this invention is capable of ready readiustment to accomodate sheets of different widths and lengths. This is accomplished simply by-fmanipulation of the hand wheel 44 to accommodate variations in width and by relocating stop 18' and flag ill to compensate for variations in length.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10 which illustrate an apparatus for supporting the center of wide thin sheets as the latter are moved into falling position by the fingers ll, reference numerals 8| depict brackets secured to and extending outwardly from th transverse beams It and on these brackets at their outer ends are Journaled the sprocket wheels '5. One of the sprockets l5, preferably the one adjacent drive shaft 28, is coupled with and adapted to be driven by a shaft 86 extending to one side of the machine andprovided with a sprocket 81. A suitable chain drive connection 88 is provided between shafts 28 and It to effect rotation of the adjacent sprocket 85 upon rotation of shaft II and the consequent movement of the fingers II. An endless chain 90 is looped over the two sprockets 85, the latter being of sumcient diameter to position a reach of the chain it both below and above the transverse beams 38. The ratio of the drive 88. the diameter of the sprockets 85, the ratio between gears 22 and 23 and the diameter of sprockets 20 are so correlated that the linear pair of outwardly extending brushes 8! connected with the ends of the coils of the magnets to provide a path for the magnet energizing current. Brushes 82 are adapted to contact with spaced conductor bars I! carried by and spanning the two transverse beams ll on the lower sides thereof. Suitable insulation 04 is provided between the bars 83 and the beams 38. Current is conducted to the bars 83 in any suitable manner,

not shown, the current supplying circuit being under the control of the switch it operated by the flag l0.

The operation of the sheet supporting apparatus described immediately above is as follows: Sprockets 85 are normally continuously rotated and consequently electro-magnets llcontinuously move about their orbit and when below beams 3| move in the same direction and at the same speed as the adjacent fingers ll. Current is normally supplied to the bars 81 and consequently those magnets positioned between the bars are normally energized. As a sheet advances into the machine on the fingers I l the attraction between the magnets and the center of the sheet will hold the sheet against the magnets and, since the latter are supported from the taut chain 90, the center portion of the sheet will be maintained in proper upper position. As the leading end of the sheet engages the flag switch I! is actuated breaking the current supplying circuit to the bars 83 and simultaneously deenergizing all the magnets 8i between the bars. This will release the center portion of the sheet at exactly the same time that the edge supporting means is withdrawn, allowing the sheet to flatly fall onto the support II or the pile positioned thereon.

It should be apparent that other means than that specifically disclosed may be employed to conduct and control the fiow of current to the electro-magnets and that a wide range of equivalents may be employed to movably support the magnets. Also, it is contemplated that in certain installations permanent magnets or vacuum cups may be substituted for the electro-magnets I. It should also be obvious that, if the center supporting means as the magnets it is positioned centrally between the frame members 11, the "switch supporting bar 62 must be moved to one side a sufiicient distance to accommodate the center sheet supporting means.

The above specifically described embodiment of the invention should be considered as illustrative only as obviously many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, the extent of which is indicated by the subioined claims.

What I claim is: I

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of laterally and longitudinally spaced movable sheet supporting elements, means to move said elements along fixed closed paths including reaches extending longitudinallyin a generally horizontal plane, a support for apile of sheets positioned centrally below said elemovement of the horizontal reaches of the chain 65 ments, means to remove the elements from be- 9,0 is the same as the movement of the fingers neath the sheet being supported thereon when 'said elements are positioned along said reaches to allow the sheet to fail toward said support, means positioned in thepath of travel of the sheets on said elements in control of said second mentioned means, and means to move said elements individually to sheet supporting. positions, said last mentioned means being positioned along said paths but outside of said reaches.

2. Apparatus of the character described comwardly to allow the sheet being supported to fall toward said support, means positioned in the path of travel of the sheets on said elements in control of said withdrawing means, and means to rotate said elements individually to sheet suppositions when said elements move along saldpaths outside or said reaches. 3.Apparatus of the character described comprising a base, a pair of longitudinally spaced laterally extending frame members on said base, apair oi spaced parallel longitudinally extending supports adjustably mounted on said frame members, an endless chain movably mounted on each or said supports and each having an inward reach parallel with an inward reach of the other, means to move said chains in such manner that both the said reaches move in the same direction, a plurality of sheet supporting fingers mounted 6. Apparatus oi the character described comprising a plurality of normally continuously mov. ing sheet supporting fingers, the paths of travel of said fingers including a pair of spaced parallel reaches moving in the same direction, said fingers adapted to support and move the sheets as they traverse the reaches, said fingers being movable fromoperative to inoperative positions and vice versa, means to move said'fingers to operative sheet engaging positions as they approach said reaches, means to maintain said fingers in operative positions along said reaches, means to move said fingers to inoperative positions upon completion of the traverse of said reaches, means below said reaches to support a pile of sheets, and means engageable by the sheets supported on said fingers in control of said retaining means.

7. Apparatus oi the character described comprising a plurality of moving sheet supporting said fingers includ fingers, the paths 01' travel of ing a pair of spaced parallel reaches both moving in the same direction, said fingers adapted to support and move the sheets as they traverse the reaches. said fingers being individually movable from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa and being normally biased to inoperative positions, means to retain said fingers in operative positions along said reaches, means responsive to the advanced position of the sheet 7 supported on said fingers in control or said reo'n said chains on horizontal axes parallel with the direction of extent of said chains, said fingers being normally biased to a downward hanging position, means associated with said supports and fingers to move said fingers to a horizontal sheet supporting position as the fingers approach said reaches during movement of the chain, means to normally retain said fingers in sheet supporting position during passage over said reaches, and means positioned in the path of travel of the sheets'on said fingers in control of said retaining means.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a sheet supporting and moving device having a pair of spaced parallel portions normally continuously moving in the same direction, a plurality of sheet supporting fingers carried by said portions and individually movable from sheet supporting positions to positions away from the sheet and vice versa, means to support a pile of sheets below said device, means to normally retain said fingers in sheet supporting positions, and means engageable by the sheet moving along said device in control 01 said retaining means, and means to move said fingers individually to sheet supporting positions as said fingers move into sheet engaging positions.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a sheet supporting and moving device having' a pair of spaced parallel portions normally continuously moving in the same direction, a plurality oi! sheet supporting fingers carried by said device and movable from operative to inoperative positions and vice versa, means to normally maintain said fingers in operative positions during passage along said portions, means to move said fingers to inoperative positions up,- on completion of the traverse of said portions, means to move said fingers to operative positions upon entering said portions, means below said portions to support a pile of sheets, and means engageable by a sheet on said fingers in control of said maintaining means.

taining means, a support for a pile of sheets below said reaches, and means to move said fingers individually to operative positions as said fingers move along said paths outside of said reaches.

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a pair of spaced elongated supports, means positioned between and below said supports to support a pile of sheets, an endless chain movably mounted on each of said elongated supports, the paths of travel of said chains including a pair of spaced parallel reaches along which the chains both travel in the same direction, a plurality of retractable sheet supporting fingers carried by and spaced along each of said chains, said fingers being normally biased to inoperative or retracted positions, means to move said fingers to operative positions as they approach said reaches, means to retain said fingers in V operative positions as they traverse said reaches, and means responsive to the advanced position of the sheets supported on said fingers to render said retaining means inoperative.

9. In apparatus of the character described, the

combination of a pair of spacedelongated supports, means positioned between and below said supports to support a pile of sheets, an endless chain movably mounted in a horizontal plane on each of said supports, a plurality of retractable sheet supporting fingers carried by and spaced along each of said chains, said fingers being normally biased to inoperative or retracted positions, said chains having opposite orbital movement whereby the inner reaches thereof move in the same direction, means engaging said fingers as said fingers approach said reaches to move said fingers to operative positions, means to retain said fingers in operative positions as they traverse said reaches, and means responsive to the advanced position of the sheets supported on said fingers to render said retaining means inoperative.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 further characterized by means to vary the interval between said supports.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which said last mentioned means includes an element longitudinally adjusted along said means and engageable by the'leading edges of the sheets passing through said machine.

12. Sheet piling apparatus comprising a pair elevated spaced parallel supporting members extending at right angles to the axis 0! travel 01 the sheets through the apparatus, a pair of spaced beams siidably supported on said members and extending parallel with said axis means to vary the interval between said beams, a chain sprocket mounted at each end of each beam, a closed chain extending about the sprocket of each beam, sheet supporting fingers carried by said chains, means to drive said sprockets comaccuse zontal plane, said fingers being pivotally mounted on said chains and nonnaily biased to downward inoperative positions, said fingers being prising transmission elements on said beams and coupled with certain oi said sprockets, a shaft extending across said apparatus at right angles to said axis anddedthered to said elements, and means to drive said shaft.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said chains are movable in their orbits in a hori, zontal plane, said fingers being pivotaily mounted on said chains and normally biased todownward inoperative positions, means to move said fingers to operative, positions upon movement of said chains, means to retain said fingers in operative positions along a portion or their path of travel, and means to render said retaining means inoperative.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said chains are movable in their orbits in a horiprovided with angularly extending portions, cam means on saidbeams engageabie by said portions to move said fingers to operative positions as said chains move, movable retaining members against which said portions abut to retain said fingers in operative positions, and means to move said retaining members away from said portions.

15. In apparatus oi the character described. the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, sheet moving and supporting means above said support comprising a pair of spaced, parallel beams one on either side 0! said supports closed articulated carrier .on each beam, a multiplicity oi spaced sheet supporting fingers pivots!!! mounted on horizontal axes on said carriers and, movable irom vertical inoperative to inwardly extending horizontal operative positions as they approach a sheet into the apparatus, and means to simultaneously move all the fingers supporting thesheet' to inoperative positions when said sheet has advanced to a predetermined position above said first mentioned support.

16. Apparatus of the characterdescribed comprising means engaging the side portions of sheets to support and move the same in a generally horizontal direction, means positioned above the sheets to support the center portion of said sheets, a support for a pile of sheets positioned below both said means, and means to simultaneously render all of said supporting means inoperative.

ALTER MICHAEL KEiL. 

